4th Annual BYC NYD Hatch-a-long

[Cynthia12]

LOL its easy now that everything is in the articles! lol I can copy paste instead of trying to type it all out all the time lol Have you noticed that some of the loose cells end up to be saddle shaped and pipping is lower than typical, say half way down the side too? I had to assist a few of these, had I not pulled them and candled and tapped they would have just died in there, because of the position sometimes they cant get to the shell correctly. so I now go by when the majority has hatched I start my countdown and candle and tap to check on them....

Yes, I am sure I am not the only one that does this, but when I see large air sacs going up the side, I mark along the air sac with a pencil, so I can see where it is. I put that big ol air sac sideways, half up, half down...make sense? Then I watch where it pips, if it pips. If it has pipped in the air sac area, I give it time, if it takes too long I assist. If others are hatching away, and there is one that has an air sac like that, that hasn't pipped, I open it and hopefully find a beak in there, internally pipped...I do more often than not..then assist it. I asked the question because, I would see these air sacs usually after I started incubating, but saw some this time as I candled and put the eggs in..they took 5 days to get here.

I got 24 Barred Rock eggs, hope I get a few to hatch. Shipping is hard enough, but in this weather, even harder, that's why I got so many. They guy at least said he would replace them if I don't have too many viable ones. Our weather is warming up by next Tues! Into the 40's! It will feel like sweater weather to us after being in the minus and single digit temps.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Yes, I am sure I am not the only one that does this, but when I see large air sacs going up the side, I mark along the air sac with a pencil, so I can see where it is. I put that big ol air sac sideways, half up, half down...make sense? Then I watch where it pips, if it pips. If it has pipped in the air sac area, I give it time, if it takes too long I assist. If others are hatching away, and there is one that has an air sac like that, that hasn't pipped, I open it and hopefully find a beak in there, internally pipped...I do more often than not..then assist it. I asked the question because, I would see these air sacs usually after I started incubating, but saw some this time as I candled and put the eggs in..they took 5 days to get here.

I got 24 Barred Rock eggs, hope I get a few to hatch. Shipping is hard enough, but in this weather, even harder, that's why I got so many. They guy at least said he would replace them if I don't have too many viable ones. Our weather is warming up by next Tues! Into the 40's! It will feel like sweater weather to us after being in the minus and single digit temps.

Those wonky air cells are very common on shipped eggs or even on eggs that weren't handled quite as carefully as they should have been. Unless it is really weird shaped & way down the side I usually just let them go. They usually find it on their own & make it out ok.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: X2!

Of course since I am half German, I will be marking the air cells on wonky ones now. I knew that I should do that but am also half Irish....Luckily I do not drink much alcohol....

 

[TMNfarm]

As long as the pellets dissolve well you will be fine. Purina Flock Raiser is crumbles. Dumore has a Starter/Grower crumble that would work as well.

For some reason, I am partial to Nutrena... My ponies eat Nutrena Safe Choice, and my old horses used to get Nutrena Senior (I switched them to Patriot Senior this year at the request of my trainer, and my 30 yo is doing much better on it. He likes it better, so he eats more..). But the strange thing is, something insode of me just bristles at the thought of feeding Purina, and I don't know why... Wierd....

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Look at this position..... I read that alot of times with saddle shaped cells the chick doesnt position correct for hatching and alot of times the feet are in a bad place and actually smoosh them so they cant move, also it forces the yolk sack and everthing more north.... look at the pics and note the top of the egg and how far down this air cell goes, alot of times they can do the internal pip but cannot hit that shell. ADDING this is why I said I mark the air cells and keep a close watch on them and if they seem "later" that the rest by about 6-12 hrs I will begin an assist by candle and tapping to make sure I have that internal pip, HOWEVER in this case you cant see the internal pip too well because of the angle, so I always tap to see if I hear them if I do then I follow the steps... If not I check again in another 6 hours....

 

[delisha]

Quote: You have to watch the sodium with canned products..read the label and if it is reasonable go for it. The chiickens love kraut and it is so good for them.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: You have to watch the sodium with canned products..read the label and if it is reasonable go for it. The chiickens love kraut and it is so good for them.
but a ltitle salt once in a while is ok right? LOL never ending questions

 

[cochins1088]

I hate the smell of kraut, but I love treating my chickens. If it's actually good for them, I may have to go buy a can.

 

[Bettacreek]

Has anyone tried sprouting Producer's Pride whole oats? With no grass, I want to try sprouting in buckets for the flock. If I can feed 1lb of oats per day, that might save some moolah as well. I need to get more buckets. 10 isn't enough, between two feed buckets and the rest for collecting/storing spent grain, and now wanting to sprout!

 

[TMNfarm]

Has anyone tried sprouting Producer's Pride whole oats? With no grass, I want to try sprouting in buckets for the flock. If I can feed 1lb of oats per day, that might save some moolah as well. I need to get more buckets. 10 isn't enough, between two feed buckets and the rest for collecting/storing spent grain, and now wanting to sprout!

I sprout the whole oats I buy in 100# sacks as part of the grain I feed my horses. Works great, and the chickens LOVE them!